Workers at the National Assembly Service Commission have called on President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and others to quickly wade into the crisis at the commission and reverse all the alleged illegal appointments influenced by politicians.
The workers in a press release in Abuja on Wednesday noted that the appointments of the Clerk and others ran afoul of the provisions of the National Assembly Service Commission Act, 2014 as amended, adding that if nothing was done within seven days, they would head to the court for redress.
SaharaReporters had reported that the position of the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, was given to Sani Magaji Tambuwal, the erstwhile Secretary of Finance and Accounts of the National Assembly.
It will be recalled that Tambuwal, alongside Mr. Ogunlana Kamoru, Secretary of Legal Services, was elevated to the position of Acting Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly (DCNA), Mrs. Henrietta Aimua-Ehikioya (former Secretary of Special Duties) was redeployed as Secretary of Legal Services, Mr. Birma Shuaibu Maina, the Director, (Legislative) Senate, the new Acting Secretary of Human Resources and Staff Development Directorate, were all appointed by the National Assembly Service Commission on November 18, 2022.
The commission had claimed that the appointments were sequel to the approval of a Memorandum presented by the Committee on Establishment, Records and Training of the Commission on the need to fill existing vacancies in the National Assembly Management team.
But the concerned in their press release on Wednesday said, “For over six months, our organisation has written several letters and addressed, press conferences, including an open letter to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the matter, but as it stands, nothing proactive has been done.
“As we have emphasised, the appointment of Tambuwal was influenced by a serving Governor from the North West, who doled out the sum of N50 million to each member of the commission, to carry out the said act. We have reliable information that a largesse of N700 million was earmarked for the job.
“Asides the political side to the issue, Tambuwal's appointment is at variance, with the Act of the National Assembly, regulating the appointment and elevation of principal career officers/top management staff.
“Those who were against his elevation cited the fact that Tambuwal, was not from the legislative cadre, which is constitutionally provided, for whoever will be elevated to such position.
“We have also recommended measures that we felt could save this corruption ridden process from tarnishing the image of the National Assembly with varying references to history vis a vis relevant provisions of the Constitution, to stakeholders, to establish why the current process should be reviewed and addressed as appropriate.
“At this critical point of our nationhood and our nascent democracy, the ongoing illegality and grand corruption in the National Assembly Service Commission, sends the wrong signal to the bewilderment of Nigerians and the international Community that Nigerian lawmakers cannot uphold the Act passed by the National Assembly and the rule of law.
“Since the appointments were made illegally, we urge President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, to wade in urgently and save the legislature and its bureaucracy.
“We will not rest until the illegality is addressed, as we are ready to proceed to court in the next seven days if this illegality and affront on the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by the same institution that is supposed to protect it is not corrected.”